Objective:To detect the expression of high mobility group protein A1(HMGA1) in HCC and investigate the relationship between the expression of HMGA1 and clinic pathological features of HCC. Methods:QRT-PCR was performed for detecting the expression of HMGA1 mRNA in 52 HCC tumor specimen and corresponding paracancerous liver tissues,10 normal human liver cancer tissue was used as negative control. The expression of HMGA1 protein in HCC was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results:The expression of HMGA1 mRNA was 6.82-fold higher in HCC tissues than in normal liver tissues (P < 0.05). And in HCC tissues with and without intrahepatic metastasis,the HMGA1 mRNA expression was 13.36 and 4.63 folds of that in normal liver tissues,respectively. The expression level of HMGA1 in HCC tissues was related to TNM stage,Edmonson grade and intraheptic metastasis(P < 0.05). The expression of HMGA1 protein was significantly higher in HCC with intrahepatic metastasis than in that without intrahepatic metastasis. Conclusion:HMGA1 expression was up-regulated in HCC,and it might be associated with the clinic stages and intrahepatic metastasis of HCC,and potentially used as an indicator for predicting the prognosis and a target for treatment approach.